TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — A night out in Tuscaloosa’s Temerson Square nearly turned tragic after a drunk driver lost control, hit a stop sign, and narrowly missed several pedestrians. Now, city leaders say it may be time to make the popular entertainment district car-free.
Police say 22-year-old Jordan Driver made a wide turn from 4th Street onto 23rd Avenue late Saturday night, jumped the curb near Copper Top, and hit a stop sign. Surveillance footage shows three people jumping out of the way — and one person narrowly missed — before the car sped off and struck a parked vehicle. The driver was later arrested for DUI, resisting arrest, and reckless driving.
Tuscaloosa City Council President Kip Tyner said the incident highlights growing safety concerns downtown.
“It shouldn’t be allowed to drive there at night,” Tyner said. “It’s dark, it’s full of drunks, and bad things are gonna happen.”
Workers in the area say near-misses are common.
“People aren’t safe driving on these roads,” said UA student Anna Scott Harbin, who works at Avenue Pub. “They don’t look out for pedestrians or crosswalks ever.”
This latest crash adds to a growing list of violent or dangerous incidents in Tuscaloosa’s entertainment districts in recent years:
Saturday’s crash, Tyner said, may finally be the “wake-up call” that forces change.
“If you look at any Saturday night down there, it’s frightening what can happen,” he said. “We really need to think about making that area pedestrian-only.”
City leaders are expected to revisit proposed safety measures in an upcoming council meeting.